Last Will and Testament of Christ
By Dr. Ken Matto
Hebrews 9:16 (KJV) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be
the death of the testator.
In Hebrews 9, we read in verses 14-17, the subject of a will. A will is a legal
document which allows the lawyer of the deceased or testator to divide their
estate according to their wishes while they were still alive. While the testator
lives, the will may be changed but once that person dies, there can be no more
changes to that will because it now is in force. The testator is a person who
makes or leaves a testament or will to give instruction on how to divide up
their estate to those named in that will after their death and not before. This
is another section of Scripture which puts the death knell to the myth of free
will.
In Hebrews 9:14-17, we read about the last will and testament of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Hebrews 9:14 (KJV) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God? The word “your” in this verse is a
pronoun, second person plural and in the genitive case (case of possession)
which means that the author is speaking to a certain group of people. If you
notice that this verse is dripping with the words of salvation. It speaks about
a person who is having their conscience purged from dead works to serve the
living God. This means that a person has become saved because they go from dead
works to serve the living God. If you notice, the verse is also stating that it
was the blood of Christ, through the eternal Spirit that has done the purging.
It is not done by the will of man but by the Holy Spirit in conjunction with the
blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:15 (KJV) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new
testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that
were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise
of eternal inheritance. Verse 15 builds upon the teaching of verse 14. It
speaks about Christ being the mediator. The mediator is one who comes between
two parties, especially in a legal situation. 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV) For there
is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; The
Bible is very clear that Christ is the mediator between God and man. John
14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me. It is clear that no one comes to the
Father except through Christ making Him the only mediator of salvation. The
first testament was the law of Sinai which no one would be able to keep.
Salvation was unattainable by means of the Law. Hebrews 9:15 then speaks about
those who are called that may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. It
sounds like those who are called unto salvation may not receive it. This is
easily explainable by the following passage. Matthew 22:14 (KJV) For many
are called, but few are chosen. Many are called by means of the Gospel
proclamation but not everyone will become saved. Only those who are chosen unto
salvation will receive the promise. Ephesians 1:4 (KJV) According as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love: According to Ephesians 1:4, only a
certain group of people were chosen before the foundation of the earth and that
is the Elect of God. 1 Peter 1:2 (KJV) Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be
multiplied. We are elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.
Notice that in this verse also the blood of Christ is working in conjunction
with the Holy Spirit.
Back to Hebrews 9:15. We read that it was the death of Christ that was made for
the redemption of His elect from their transgressions made under the first
covenant or the Law. Every person in this world that is unsaved at the time of
death will be judged according to the Law. If therefore any transgression of the
law be found in an individual, it will be like they have broken the entire law
and will be sentenced to eternal damnation. James 2:10 (KJV) For whosoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Therefore since Christ died for His Elect, they will no longer be held guilty
for the transgression of the law because Christ fulfilled all the requirements
of the Law by means of His sacrifice. Since the believer is in Christ, it is
like they too have kept every tenet of the Law. Colossians 3:3 (KJV) For ye
are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Since we are hidden in
Christ, no accusation of the law can ever touch us.
Hebrews 9:16 (KJV) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be
the death of the testator. Now comes the legal, binding part of the
testament. The testament is changeable only while the testator lives and has no
legal or binding authority but once the testator is dead, the testament now goes
into force and has legal authority and cannot be changed anymore. The testament
is to remain as is at the point of the death of the testator. Christ was the
testator of the New Testament or Covenant and His death at Calvary sealed the
contents of His Testament or will. Just as a person makes a will, it can be
changed any time the person is still alive but once they are dead, the will is
now sealed and no more changes are to take place.
Hebrews 9:17 (KJV) For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise
it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. A will is a dead
document and carries no legal authority until the death of the testator occurs.
It is not like a power of attorney which a person has over another which is a
document that is in force as long as the person it is designed to protect is
still alive. Once that person passes away, then the power of attorney is null
and void and at that time the will or testament is activated and the final
wishes of the testator are then carried out.
Now here is the part which puts another death knell into the myth of free will.
Once the Lord Jesus Christ died, then all those who were named before the
foundation of the world unto salvation were now sealed. 2 Corinthians 1:22
(KJV) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts. Then until the last one is saved, the call goes out to the world
but only the elect will be chosen unto salvation. Only those whose names who
were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will become saved. Revelation 21:27
(KJV) And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in
the Lamb's book of life. The place in Heaven was already prepared for the
believer from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:34 (KJV) Then shall
the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Now here is the boot to free will. Have you ever been to the reading of a will?
If not let me make up a typical scenario.
John Jones had died and now his family has come to the Lawyer’s office for the
reading of the will. Now John Jones was worth One million dollars so the reading
of the will is important.
The Lawyer now reads the will which John made ten years ago and for the purpose
of better understanding, we will say that his wife had predeceased him and only
the children are now in the will.
“To my three children I hereby bequeath my entire estate which is to be divided
up equally. My three children being Abigail, Jane, and Deborah. Now the will has
been executed and the estate has been legally divided up.
BUT WAIT!
Before the session is over, a neighbor comes in and says to the Lawyer, add my
name to that list and divide up the estate four ways.
The lawyer tells the man, “I am sorry but you cannot just add your name to the
will because once a person dies, the will is in force and cannot be changed.”
Neighbor says, “Yes, but I choose to be part of that estate.”
Lawyer says, “I am sorry but you cannot add your name to a document which has
been sealed and is now in force.”
Neighbor says, “But I will myself to be part of that estate.”
Lawyer says, “Sorry, but you cannot add your name to a will already in force and
with all the named inheritors now please leave because ‘we never knew you.’”
And so it is with those who think that they can add their names to Christ’s last
will and testament. He died for His people, the Elect of God, and those were
named before the foundation of the world and only those who are named will
become saved and because the testament is in force, no other names can be added
to it. No amount of free will, will ever get anyone into Heaven, simply because
no one can add their names to the will. This is why on the last day, Jesus will
say to the unbelievers. Matthew 7:23 (KJV) And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. This is why
Jesus says to the unbelievers that He never knew them because they were not
named in His will and therefore He did not die for them. So no matter who thinks
or preaches that a person has free will and can “accept Christ” they are
teaching a rank heresy and need to study their Bibles. Christ died for a
specific group, namely His Elect.
Matthew 1:21 (KJV) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from
their sins.
John 13:1 (KJV) Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his
hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father,
having loved his own which were in the world,
he loved them unto the end.
John 17:9 (KJV) I pray for them: I pray not for the
world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Notice in these three verses, we read that Christ is only praying for and saving
His people, which are the Elect of God and not the whole world. Now just one
more section and that is back to legal talk. Remember in a will the
beneficiaries receive an inheritance and that is exactly the language which God
uses in describing what the believers receive.
Acts 20:32 (KJV) And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of
his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an
inheritance among all them which
are sanctified.
Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) In whom also we have obtained an
inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his
own will:
Ephesians 1:14 (KJV) Which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:18 (KJV) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye
may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of
his inheritance in the
saints,
Hebrews 9:15 (KJV) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament,
that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under
the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance.
1 Peter 1:4 (KJV) To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you,
The word “inheritance” is used 203 times in the Bible and the word “inherit” is
used 61 times. These are legal terms with only specifically named people in
view, just as the six verses above show us.
Summary
To summarize this article, we have learned that a will, when the testator is
still alive can be changed but once the testator dies, the will is now in force
and nothing can be added or changed anymore. What makes us think that the Last
Will and Testament of Christ is any different? No one of their own “supposed”
free will can add their name to a document which is now in force, especially
since Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation
13:8 (KJV) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are
not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world. This means that in principle Christ was already slain before the
first man was formed and that means the last will and testament of Christ was
already in force when the world was created. The mythical free will of man is an
affront to God when He already has everything worked out since the dawn of time.
Hebrews 4:3 (KJV) For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said,
As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the
works were finished from the foundation of the world. Free will is the
feeble attempt of man to usurp the authority of God by believing he can add his
name to a finished document and then believe that God is obligated to save him.
Those who are to be saved have already been named, whether the free willer
accepts it or not.